Yiippiieehh tonight we've got the best prove, that punkmusic has got a future. And this future is named - Dropkick Murphys, who beat the hell outta the rhythm like in old traditions. And our good old Zenith is shaking in it's foundation. Interesting to watch, that most of the audiance is a younger generation. A generation, who don't know anymore bands like UK Subs, Sex Pistols, Toy Dolls or the Exploited. But the sound of the Dropkick Murphys is just a continuation of the old Punk genre and literatually the same stilistically.. It shows the impression, that the youth is just discovering the Punk for themselves in a new way. It's okay, and maybe because of this, one day, they also discover the old idols again. 

Anyway, Support comes from Deadly Sins, who I missed, and  Against Me from  Gainsville, Florida.

They started out in punkrock as well in 1997, originally planned as a one man project from Tom Gabel. But soon it became a full band, which consist apart from Gabel also of James Bowman (Git), Andrew Seward (Bass) and Warren Oakes (drums). 
Against Me can look back on four full CDs, whereby 'New Wave' has been the latest release last year. 
Not bad at all, what these boys are doing here. It's a bit static, what's up to the generel movement on stage, but that's nothing new in punk ain't it..?! But therefore the throw down their punk energetically on the 4.000 kids here at the Zenith. I can easily imagine, that we hear more of this lot in the near future...

http://www.againstme.net



But like most times, everybody is last but not least waiting for the headliner. And when he comes on stage the big bang is just exploding... 

Nothing new really at concerts of this kind. Exspecially in punk fans freak out more than in any other kind of music. Singer Al Barr doesn't miss any chance to push the madness here even more up. It's getting almost outta hand, and as I am the only photographer in the pit, I've gotta watch things happening in myback more than taking pics in the front. The pit developes into a dangerzone No.1, as living rockets fly across the barriere frequently. 

The Dropkick Murphys are going since 1996. And they have been here before, so they are not that unknown anymore. Six studioalbums, a live CD and mayn singles are included in their biography. Al Barr is accompanied by Ken Casey (Voc/Bass), James Lynch (Git), Matt Kelly (Drums), Tim Brennan (git), Scruffy Wallace (Dudelsack) and Jeff Da’Rosa (Drums). This band got another push in their popularity, when they could manage to get one song  I'm Shipping Up to Boston on the soundtrack of Martin Scorseses movie 'Departed' 2006. this track was also featured in one episode of the Simpsons. 

And of course this band goes for the old idols, just in a more modern dress. For my taste the backpipe doesn't come too good across. 
The Dropkick Murphys describe their own style as a mixture of Punkrock, Irish folk, Rock and Hardcore Punk. And if we didn't know it any better, you could easily think, they are from Scotland or even Ireland. But they actually do come from Boston Massachusetts. 

After not even 30 minutes the highpoint of the madness has been reached, at least what's up to the front rows. It's almost a miracle, that noone gets hurt. Al Barr is telling the Munich audiance to be one of the best on this tour, and he might be even right. He  jumps into the audiance, not too far stretching out, otherwise it would become too dangerous. And inbetween Deadly Sins singer Stephanie Doughtery comes on stage again to sing a duet with Al Barr. 

Ein Merchandise Stand, der fast schon die Ausmaße von dem der Rolling Stones hat.

Last but not least the band gets many fans on stage, mostly females to celebrate a bombastic finale.
This here is a young energetic punkrock with folk influenced, which transfers the  traditions of the old idols. 
In the end I have to draw one comparison though. Compared to some shows of the oldies like the Exploited for instance, this one here is still a mild spring wind. But well, the world is still spinning round the sun, and whatever has not happened yet, can still be one day.....
  http://www.dropkickmurphys.com/